Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To study the effect of rosiglitazone (RGZ), a ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), on the cell-proliferation and expression of aquaporin-1 mRNA in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Methods Each kind of cells were divided into 4 groups: the control group, the RGZ group (10μM RGZ), the GW9662 group (GW9662, a PPAR-γ antagonist, 20μM) and the GW9662+RGZ group (cells were cultured for 1 h in the medium containing 20μM GW9662 and then in the medium containing 10μM RGZ). Cell-proliferation affected by RGZ was assayed by using a CCK-8 cell-counting kit. Aquaporin-1 mRNA in HPMCs and HUVECs was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Results Proliferation of HPMCs was inhibited in the GW9662+RGZ group (P<0.01) as compared with that of the control group. The inhibition was not found in the RGZ group and the GW9662 group (P>0.05). However, proliferation of HUVECs presented in the 3 treated groups (P<0.01). RGZ up-regulated aquaporin-1 mRNA in HPMCs and HUVECs. Conclusion RGZ can up-regulate the expression of aquaporin-1 at the mRNA level, probably through the activation of the PPARγ pathway in HPMCs and HUVECs.

Key words: Mesothelial cells, Endothelial cells, Aquaporin-1